Summary

The theoretical-experimental study presented in this doctoral thesis offers solutions (answers) to two psychological problems of maximum significance and actuality: What personality factors determine the choice of behavior strategies in difficult life situations? How can the process of choosing coping strategies in existential crises be optimized?

As a result of two psychological experiments accomplished on two samples of subjects of adult age (220 people) there were revealed the Psychological determinants of choosing the behaviour strategies in difficult life situations as follows: 1) the type of dominant behaviour motivation in difficult life situations, 2) the motivational level, 3) the quality of the meaning production process related to the acts of behaviour presumed by life difficulties.

The solution to the problem of improving the coping in difficult life situations is given by a psychological intervention programme elaborated by the author and tested in a formative experiment.

The aim of the programme is to change the process of conferring meanings to the coping behaviour in difficult life situations and, as a result, of the process of choosing and adopting efficient behaviours in these situations.